"But who are we really looking for?"

Seifer asks as they push open the heavy steel doors leading to the Training Center.

"Please, even if I tell you his name, you won't remember who he is," Quistis replies.

"If you say so, ex-instructor," he hisses.

Quistis narrows her eyes and turns to him, about to address this incessant "instructor" remark when she is interrupted by another voice.

"Instructor there!"

"For Hyne's sake!"

She shuts her eyes, recognizing the footsteps and voice that had haunted her for a decade at Garden. For the sake of politeness, she takes a breath, turns back, and smiles at the running man with a dark complexion.

"Trepie Groupie #1! Long time no see. How are you doing?"

"Instructor Trepe! I'm fine. You look... um..."

The burly man starts to stammer and scratches his head. His nervous gestures make Seifer realize that this is Quistis's biggest fan, known for initiating all the craziness surrounding the Groupies. He has been so obsessed that people call him Trepie Groupie #1—a name that even Seifer would remember.

Quistis waits impatiently for another word to escape this man's mouth, and he finally blurts out, "When Wimbly said you were here, I looked for you immediately."

"Aw, that's very kind of you," Quistis responds politely.

An awkward silence follows.

"Is there anything else?" she asks.

"Yes!" Trepie Groupie #1 answers loudly, his voice echoing down the hallway. "Um..." He glances at Seifer without addressing him and seems to hesitate. "Please come find me later when you have a chance. I have some important information."

"Okay..." Quistis frowns slightly. "Important info about what?"

"Something important..." Trepie #1 insists. "I'll be in the cafeteria waiting for you." He glances at Seifer briefly again before handing Quistis an X-Potion. "It's dangerous in there at this hour. Please be careful..."

Seriously? Everyone seems to hand out X-Potions like cookies. Back in his time, he would have been lucky to find a Potion hidden in a random bush. Inflation is real.

"Thank you, but..."

Quistis begins to speak, but Trepie #1 runs away at Hyne's speed.

"See you in the cafeteria, Instructor Trepe!"

Seifer shakes his head as the pathetic man disappears, mocking Quistis.

"How do you feel to become a celebrity again? Free potions and hotdogs just by breathing."

"Oh, shut up for a sec!" Quistis sighs, and turns back to the open doors.

"So what's his name?"

"Trepie Groupie #1. I don't even remember his original name. He's changed all of his legal documents to that as well..."

"No, cocky Quistis. I'm asking about the guy we're looking for."

"Ah. Zyma."

A blank face above his neck as she expects.

"Zyma what?"

"O."

"Oh?"

"O., the letter..." Quistis runs out of patience. "He was in the same class as Squall and you for six years. My Hyne! He even sat in the last row with you!"

"Wait, do you mean the Broccoli boy?"

"Um... yeah, probably. I think you're right," she replies.

"Then why didn't you say so in the first place?" Seifer yells.

"How the hell would I know what nicknames you give people?" she retorts.

"They're all logical, first thing comes to one's mind."

"Oh really? So what's mine?"

"What?"

"Don't play innocent. What's my nick name?" Quistis presses.

"You don't want to know," he smirks and wiggles his eyebrows.

"Right," she sighs.

They continue venturing into the darkness of the Training Center.

"Seriously? Garden cut costs to the point where they can't afford a few light bulbs?"

"Simulation room," Quistis explains. "They must have set it up successfully. There's no need for students to fight real monsters here."

Instinctively, Seifer grabs the Hyperion tucked on his back. "Does that mean the monsters can mate and multiply out of control here?"

"Aw, are you scared?" Quistis smiles playfully, raising her arm to show the new junction device she has received from Cid. "Do you want me to go through the junction tutorial one more time?"

"Hell no!" he grimaces, then quickly comes back with a punchline. "You're fired. Remember?"

"Tch..."

They keep going, but there's no sign of any humans.

"Are you sure that weirdo is here?" Seifer asks.

"He lives here," she replies as they come to an intersection that leads to two paths. "I think we should split up to find him. If you see him, page me. And don't make any noise. Mind the T-Rexes."

With that, Quistis disappears down one of the paths, and Seifer ventures into the other. The air grows damper as he goes deeper, the familiar smell of earthy moss and decaying Grats amplifying compared to when he was at Garden.

"Almasy?" a voice calls from behind, startling him.

Seifer turns around and finds the one he is looking for. Wearing a green bandana and a matching army windbreaker with light green accents, this guy looks like a walking broccoli.

"GF boy?" Seifer frowns.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Under the dim light, Seifer can still see that Zyma looks concerned.

"I just have a few questions for you about some weapons, and then I'll go. No need to tell me I'm not welcome here—I already know."

"Not welcome? What are you talking about?" The green guy looks startled, then flashes a smile. "Of course all customers are welcome. Our shop offers the best service in Garden."

Zyma pats Seifer on the shoulder, looking him up and down before reading out for his gun blade. "Are you tired of Hyperion? Trade it in; I'll give you the best deal. May I?"

"No, that won't be necessary," Seifer says, tucking away his Hyperion. What a creep, trying to grab his blade like that. "I'm here with Trepe for an investigation."

"King's here?"

"I said Trepe," Seifer frowns. "Quists Trepe."

"What an honor!"

Seifer pages Quistis, who shows up immediately, though she shows obvious signs of a battle.

"What've you got there?" Seifer asks.

"Three T-Rexes," she replies.

"How stealthy," Seifer smirks.

Quistis ignores Seifer and walks toward Zyma.

"Long time no see..." Zyma speaks up first.

"I heard what you did to Xu when I'm away, you bastard."

"She's terrible at defense without you," Zyma retorts. "Call me an opportunist if you may. I got what I want, that's all I care about…

"Seriously, what the hell are you all talking about?" Seifer asks, frustrated.

"It's none of your business," Quistis snaps. "Anyway, real business. We have a few questions for you..."

She explains Selphie's situation to Zyma, who listens attentively.

"Any ideas why she might linger near that shelf? I looked at it for half an hour. Nothing was moved or taken away," Quistis says.

"Missing pages?"

"I don't have time for that. That's why I'm asking you."

"Right. I actually know what she might be up to. She found me a couple of days ago for a consult. It must be related to why she's looking for weapon books," Zyma says.

"Really? What did she say?" Quistis asks.

Zyma puts on his unethical smile again. "What's in it for me to share that information?"

"Because Selphie's life might be in danger?"

"You seriously thinks that anyone on Earth can harm that little sorceress who can the End an Ultima Weapon?"

"How about the Garden Festival?"

"None of my business."

"It's a matter of national security."

"Boring."

"Please."

"Stop playing innocent. The magic word never works on me," Zyma smirks. "But you... You have something I desperately want."

Quistis closes her eyes forcefully. "You're not gonna let me go, are you? I'm on a mission. This is not a game!"

"Come on, ten to fifteen minutes at most..."

"You promise?"

"I take any bet seriously."

"Where?"

"My room," Zyma replies, then walks away. "I'll go prepare my place."

Quistis looks at Seifer. "Wait for me in the office. I'll be back."

"Where the hell are you going with that creep?" Seifer asks, baffled.

"Well... just doing a transaction in his room. It's nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Selphie's whereabouts are more important. I can give up anything for her."

"Even...? My God." Seifer's face turns red. "I'll beat that creep up!"

"Don't! I can deal with him. Just wait—don't cause any trouble, alright?"

Unable to believe what he just heard, Seifer follows Quistis and Zyma to the male dormitory. The building has changed significantly. He doesn't need to ask why, certain it was due to the damn invasion led by his possessed ass anyway. Some would tiptoe around it, like Quistis, who acts like an awkward, loving mother. Other fuckers would generously describe how their loved ones were killed, leaving Seifer consumed by guilt for countless nights. The PTSD is a real shit. As if anyone had warned him about it before he became a mercenary. As if he had any choice at all.

"My room's size has tripled—enough for my secret shop's inventory. Guess I'll thank you for that, mate," Zyma says with a happy smile, patting Seifer's back.

And there's this nonchalant motherfucker.

"Put your filthy hands on me again, and I'll chop them up nicely for Christmas," he says.

"Easy, mate!" Zyma raises his hands in surrender. "I bet you don't want to watch us play then?"

"Watch?" Seifer rolls his eyes.

"No! He's not interested," Quistis intervenes.

"Too embarrassed to let his witness you lose your dignity?" Zyma smirks.

"Too early to say that, right? I'm better than Xu, after all." Quistis folds her arms across her torso."

"I'll make you my yet-another-queen in 15 minutes."

"Then show me all you've got." Quistis straightens her right arm, getting agitated. "All hands on deck."

With that, they enter Zyma's room, closing the door and leaving Seifer speechless with his imagination. He wonders how to best use the 15-minute wait. He decides to text Fujin, who is spying on his rival. According to her, the guy is all over the place and struggling to keep track of evidence. Seifer frowns; nothing seems organized in Fujin's eyes anyway.

Seifer: So you'd say he's not as good as me?

Fujin: JOKES.

Seifer: We're equally bad?

Fujin: AFFIRMATIVE.

Fujin: QUISTIS?

Seifer: FUCKING.

Fujin: 😒

Then, Seifer hears Quistis scream inside the room. He bangs on the door and yanks the doorknob, but it's a digital lock.

"Hey! What's going on?"

He thrusts his shoulder against the door. On the second thrust, it swings open, nearly sending Seifer crashing to the floor.

"It's over. Come on in," Quistis says with a winning smile.

Seeing Seifer, Zyma is about to stand up from his kneeling position but gets pulled back by Quistis.

"Four more minutes, my queen. No cheating."

"What the hell is going on?"

"I lost, what else?" Zyma sighs. "Close the door. Please don't tell anyone about this," he addresses both detectives.

"You can be sure that I always follow the rules," Quistis tucks what seems like a card in her pocket.

It's then Seifer realizes there is a pile of Triple Triad cards on the nearby table.

For Hyne's sake! These nuts were just playing a card game!

"Enough for a catchup," Quistis sits down and takes out her notebook. "Now tell us what you know about Selphie."